Jacek Rak

Jacek Rak is a Professor at the Department of Communications and Computer Networks within the Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunications and Informatics at Gdańsk University of Technology. His research career spans over two decades with continuous contributions to network resilience engineering, evidenced by over 50 publications in top-tier IEEE and Springer journals. He serves as a leading authority in optical network design, vehicular communications, and disaster-resilient systems, frequently collaborating with international institutions including Hungarian Academy of Sciences, University of Lisbon, and Polish-Japanese Academy of Information Technology.

Professor Rak's research focuses on network resilience engineering across multiple domains. His work establishes foundational frameworks for protecting communication systems against disasters, with significant contributions to optical network survivability, 5G/6G fronthaul optimization, and vehicular network security. His research methodology integrates mathematical modeling with practical implementation, particularly evident in his development of the κ-Penalty approach for disjoint path calculation and eFRADIR disaster resilience framework. Recent work emphasizes the convergence of wireless and optical technologies for next-generation networks, addressing critical challenges in energy efficiency and cost modeling for 6G infrastructure.

His publication portfolio reveals a clear evolution from VANET security (2010-2015) to comprehensive disaster resilience frameworks (2016-present), culminating in the 2020 Springer monograph Guide to Disaster-Resilient Communication Networks co-edited with David Hutchison. Current research examines optical fronthaul optimization for 6G systems, with multiple 2023-2025 publications establishing new methodologies for cost-energy tradeoff analysis in next-generation wireless infrastructure.

• IEEE Communications Society Distinguished Lecturer (2018-2020)
• Editor-in-Chief, Optical Switching and Networking special issue on Disaster-Resilient Optical Networks (2021)
• Technical Program Committee Chair, International Workshop on Reliable Networks Design and Modeling (RNDM 2012-2015)

Professor Rak actively mentors next-generation researchers through collaborative projects like RECODIS (Resilient Communication Services Protecting End-user Applications from Disaster-based Failures) and coordinates international research efforts through EU-funded initiatives. His work demonstrates consistent leadership in establishing resilience metrics and validation methodologies for critical communication infrastructure, with increasing focus on climate change adaptation and sustainable network design principles in recent publications.